MADRID, 9 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) has won this Saturday the fourteenth stage of the Vuelta a España, held over 156.5 kilometers between Sauveterre-de-Béarn and Larra-Belagua, with a magnificent performance in the mountains that allows him to redeem himself from Friday’s disaster, while the American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) retains the red jersey of the event.
“Yesterday was not the best day in the world, but today is a new day with new opportunities. It will be a new way of running,” Evenepoel warned before the start of the stage, which started from the heart of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques.
The Belgian, current champion of La Vuelta, drew on pride and character after his collapse in the Tourmalet, where he lost 27 minutes; He attacked from the beginning of the day, went with the Frenchman Romain Bardet (DSM-firmenich) and managed to leave him behind with four kilometers to go, sealing his second stage victory alone after the one achieved on the third day in Arinsal.
The riders launched into action with the peloton rolling straight, with Evenepoel ready to make up for his dramatic performance on Friday. The Belgian and the Portuguese Nélson Oliveira (Movistar Team) were the first to look for the escape, which after being neutralized at first managed to consolidate itself later with a group of up to 24 units that arrived four minutes ahead at the foot of the Col de la Hourcere. Behind, Jumbo-Visma set the pace for the peloton.
Evenepoel and the Frenchman Romain Bardet (DSM-firmenich) stood out on the descent from the pass and gained more than 40 seconds of advantage over the pursuers before facing the climb to Larrau. In the middle of the climb, 55 kilometers from the finish, Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) launched an attack to which the Jumbos Sepp Kuss, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard responded.
The leading pair crowned the Laza pass with almost four minutes over the group of Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ), Jonathan Castroviejo (INEOS Grenadiers) and Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) and more than six over the peloton. It was four kilometers from the finish line when the current champion managed to leave his breakaway partner behind and fly towards the Navarrese finish line.
The Spanish round will continue this Sunday with the fifteenth stage, a medium mountain stage that will take place over 158.5 kilometers between Pamplona and Lekunberri, before facing the second day of rest on Monday. It will be a route suitable for getaways, with a first third category port before a double climb to Zuarrarrate (3rd).
–CLASSIFICATIONS.
-Stage.
1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) 4:13:38.
2. Romain Bardet (FRA/DSM-firmenich) a 1:12.
3. Lennert Van Eetvelt (BEL/Lotto Dstny) 6:33.
4. JONATHAN CASTROVIEJO (ESP/INEOS Grenadiers) 6:35.
5. Michael Storer (AUS/Groupama-FDJ) 7:24.
-General.
1. Sepp Kuss (USA/Jumbo-Visma) 51:04:54.
2. Cousin Roglic (ESL/Jumbo-Vism) at 1:37.
3. Jonas Vingegaard (DIN/Jumbo-Visma) 1:44.
4. JOHN AYUSO (ESP/UAE Team Emirates) 2:3
5. ENRIC MAS (ESP/Movistar Team) 3:06.